ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Thames Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 18606, 15 September 1932, Page 3

ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

BOROUGH FINANCES.

THE CHOSEN FOUR.

One Business Representative.

DECISION BY COUNCIL. In terms of Section 7 of the Thames Borough Commissioner Act, 1932, providing- for the appointment of an Advisory Committee, consisting of the Mayor and four other persons, to act in conjunction with the Borough Commissioner, the Council, at its meeting last night, selected tlhe following for recommendation for appointment to the committee '\-y Crs H. R. Bush, C. J. Garland, and A. Garrett, and Mr C. S. Donovan, the nominee of the Thames Chamber of Commerce.

Rates Deferred.

At the commencement of the meeting the following telegram from the Minister for Internal Affairs was read: — "Have advised Commissioner ;to consider preferable striking rates j be deferred until he assumes office. Hoped make arrangements enabling recovery rates within current financial year." The Mayor, Mr S. Ensor, explain-

ed that in accordance with the , Council's expressed wish, the matter of the preparation of the" Estimates had been considered, but in view of the financial circumstances it had been deemed advisable to get in touch with the Commissioner and ascertain his views, and the matter had been referred to the Loans Creditors' Committee and the .Department of Internal Affairs, the telegram being the result.

Ca.'l Far Nominations

When a letter was read notifying that the Department was anxious to get. the appointment of the Advisory Committee by the GovernorGeneral, on the recommendation of the Council, finalised as soon as practicable after the Commissioner assumes office, and requesting that the names, of the Council's nominees be forwarded as early as possible, the Mayor stated that he had got in touch with as many members of the Council as possible and an .advertisement had been published calling for nominations for a representative of the business interests of the town.

The matter was then held over till the conclusion of the other business. .

Mayor's Remarks^,

Speaking later, the Mayor said it would be remembered that Avhen they Avere discussing proposals Avith Mr Snell, of Wellington, in regard to the debenture-holders, at one of the very early conferences it Avas proposed that the Council should consider the appointment of an outside representative to the. Advisory Committee. That isuggestion came from Mr' Snell, and he was rather surprised to notice, from the report in the "Thames Star" of the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, that someone else Avas claiming credit for that suggestion.

,What the Act Says. The Mayor then read Section 7 of the Act concerning the appointment of an Advisory Committee:—

(1) As soon as practicable after the 'appointment of the Commissioner, there shall be appointed, in accordance with this section, an advisory body to be called the Thames Borough Advisory Committee. (2) The Ad.isory Committee shall consist of the Mayor and four other persons to be appointed by the Gov-ernor-General, on the recommendation of the Council.

(3) The members of the Advisory Committee sha'l continue in office throughout the term of office of the Commissioner, save that any such member • may be at any time removed from office by the Gover-nor-General, . or may resign his office by writing, addressed to the Minister.

(4) The Advisory Committee may from time to time appoint standin3 or special committees to assist it in the exercise of its functions under this Act. A person may be appointed a member of a committee under this .sub-section, notwithstanding that he may not be a member ■ of the Advisory Committee.

, (5) The powers of the Advisory Committee shall not be affected by any vacancy in the membership thereof.

The Outside Representative

. It was generally recognised, said Mr Ensor, that the Council, elected by and responsible to, the ratepayers, was the only official body with Avhich negotiations could take place. The Council readily agreed to the suggestion of the appointment of someone outside themselves. At the public meeting of ratepayers ho had given an assurance that the Council would select a representative of the business interests of Pollen Street, but that did not necessarily mean that they need go outside their own members.

The Mayor said he thought more interest would have been shown in the matter of nominating a business representative for the Advisory Committee, but only one nomination had- been received for that, committee, and the Council's job was to select the other three members. There was not one member of the

co-operation which he had received from them all in endeavouring to solve the Borough's problems. Those he would like to see on the committee were the people Avho had done the work—"those who had manned the pumps and tried to save the ship."

"Not Sleepy Hollow."

| Thames was not a sleepy hollow I by any means, added His Worship, and there was plenty to keep the members of the Council busy. He did not think there was another town of its size which had more activities than Thames to attend to. He thought that even when the Advisory Committee was appointed there would still be other committees needed to carry on. He congratulated the chairmen and members of the various committees of the Council on their endeavours to keep matters moving. They had all had an exceptionally hard time- in trying to improve the Borough's position, and he considered nobody could 'have done better. He had had a very heavy job himself, and he sincerely appreciated the help of the committees and members. He proposed before the final meeting to ask the Town Clerk to prepare a report showing the work the Council had done.

"We are just going for a holiday," concluded Mr Ensor, "we are not going out of existence altogether." ■ ;:■ -i ! •

Mr Donovan's Nomination.

The Town Clerk, Mr A. Chapman, read a largely signed petition supporting the nomination of'Mr C. S. Donovan, President of the Chamber of Commerce, as the representative of business interests.

In reply to a question, the Mayor said the- Council made the recommendations to Wellington and these were submitted to the GovernorGeneral for appointment. The Council ihad given an assurance regarding an- outside representative and they should fall in with the wishes of the majority and accept the nomination to be sent forward to the Department of Internal Affairs.

On the motion of .Cr C. T. Fearn, seconded by Cr J. H. Hodge, this was unanimously agreed to.

The Council's Representatives

Crs Garland, Bush, Muir and Garrett .were then nominated for the other ■ three appointments to the Advisory Committee. Cr Muir Was not present at the- meeting. Cr Garland suggested that Mr P. H. Claxton Avould be a most suitable member of the Committee. He would be very acceptable to the debenture-holders and would carry a lot of weight with the Commissioner. He Avas the biggest employer of labour in the toAvn and had every qualification, and valuable experience. The section, of the Act,. Mr Garland pointed out, mentioned "persons." The Mayor said he fully realised Mr Claxtori's qualifications, but there was possibly a doubt whether Mr Claxton Avould agree to accept nomination.

Cr Garland said that perhaps Mr Claxton could be induced to join one of the sub-committees.

Cr Bush .said they all recognised Mr Claxton's ability and Avould like to see him attached in some Avay. The idea of getting his services for a sub-committee Avas quite a good move.

On the ballot being taken, Grs Bush, Garland and Garrett were elected. It was decided to forward the names of those recommended by the Council to the Department of Internal Affairs- with the suggestion that the appointments should not take effect until gazetted and the Commissioner has assumed office.

The Mayor congratulated the three members on their election and said he was sure they Avould work in the best interests of the ratepayers. The rest of the Council would probably find they would be more active than ever when they received their appointments to the sub-committees.